The City of Richardson was recently selected as one of the 10 happiest mid-sized cities in America by Movoto Real Estate, a national online real estate brokerage.

Ranking fifth on the list, Richardson was the highest-rated city in Texas. Movoto ranked cities based on scoring criteria that take into account stress factors such as unemployment levels, commute times and cost of living, as well as factors such as personal safety, income, marital status, home ownership, educational degree attained and convenience of amenities.

“This recognition validates what we already knew – that Richardson is one of the best cities in Texas and the entire country,” said Richardson Mayor Laura Maczka. “Based on the feedback from Movoto, we have further evidence that the city’s residents, public safety, educational environment and overall lifestyle offerings are top-notch. Richardson truly is a vibrant and happy community, and it is one that we are proud to call home.”

Movoto applied the aforementioned criteria to 200 mid-sized cities, defined as the 101st through 300th-largest U.S. cities according to the Census Bureau. Each city was given a score of one to 200 in the individual criteria, with one being the best. These scores were then averaged into one aggregate called the Big Deal Score. The city with the lowest cumulative score was crowned the winner, which went to Rochester, Minn., with a 27.86. Richardson earned a 42.86.

Additionally, out of the 200 cities evaluated, Richardson stood out by placing 19th overall for attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher, with 50 percent of its residents holding that distinction. The City also ranked 28th overall for personal safety, reporting just 171 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, and in terms of convenience of amenities, was second-best out of the top 10 cities.

About the City of Richardson
Known globally for its high-tech business leadership, the City of Richardson also offers a high quality of life, diverse array of neighborhoods, convenient Metroplex location, multi-modal transportation infrastructure and outstanding City services. Richardson has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top places to live and work by the national media, and the City remains dedicated to continuous improvement, as well as to the principles of open government and two-way communications with residents. To learn more, visit www.cor.net.